CVE-2015-5268 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The rating component in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.10, 2.8.x before 2.8.8, and 2.9.x before 2.9.2 mishandles group-based authorization checks, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading a rating value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5268 affects the rating component within Moodle learning management systems across multiple versions including 2.6.11 and earlier, 2.7.x versions before 2.7.10, 2.8.x versions before 2.8.8, and 2.9.x versions before 2.9.2. This security flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the system's ability to properly enforce access controls for rating data. The vulnerability specifically targets the group-based authorization mechanisms that should restrict users from accessing rating information that belongs to other groups or users within the system.
The technical flaw stems from improper validation of group membership and authorization checks within the rating subsystem. When users attempt to access rating values through the system, the component fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to view the specific rating data in question. This authorization failure occurs at the group level where users who should not have access to certain ratings can still retrieve them through direct access methods. The vulnerability essentially allows authenticated users to bypass normal access controls and obtain sensitive information that should be restricted based on group membership or user roles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote authenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to rating information that may contain sensitive data about student performance, peer evaluations, or other confidential academic metrics. This information exposure can compromise the privacy and confidentiality of users within the learning management system, potentially affecting academic integrity and student privacy. The vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions where rating systems are used for peer assessment, course evaluations, or collaborative learning activities where group dynamics and individual performance data are critical.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and relates to the broader category of access control weaknesses that can lead to information disclosure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a privilege escalation and information gathering technique where attackers leverage authorization bypass to access restricted data. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper authorization enforcement. Organizations using affected Moodle versions should immediately implement the vendor-provided security patches and consider conducting thorough access control audits to ensure no unauthorized data exposure has occurred. Additionally, administrators should review group membership configurations and verify that proper authorization checks are in place for all rating-related operations within the system.